Well-drilling apparatus



Nov. 26, 1929. D. L.. JOHNSON ET A1. 1,736,854

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet l f WEL/ww l We/ WEB /Wes ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1929. D. L. .JOHNSON ET AL WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 5, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 w L Q o Il Hull NW \N.| i m1 QQ MM o NW W m n w m w n Ul 1| l WW n ll 1| v@ m l QQ H U \.l.|. l Q l 1 u n w\\ MM. W h l NQ`\N\\ mvmv .FD W m u QN QN u WN, NM www \w Q wm um wm wm. Mm NM, BMJ Q i o'vvv ATTRNEY Nov. 26, 1929. D. L. JOHNSON ET AL 1,736,854

A WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTRNEY Nov. 26, 1929. D. l.. JOHNSON ET AL 1,736,854

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 5, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 mh m w Q gag?. y7.

INVENTORS ATT'ORNEY yay.

Nov. 26;v 1929.

D. L. JoHNsoN ET A1. l 1,736,854

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5. 1927 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 S N O Qb ig i INVENTORS AT`ToRNEY 7 Sheets-Sheet A TTORNE Y Nov. 26, 192.9. D. 1 JOHNSON ET Ax.

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1927 Nov. 26, 1929. D. JOHNSON -ET A1. 1,736,854

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 5. 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 o all' A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DION L. JOHNNN AND WELDEN F. BARNES, 0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA WELL-DBILLING APPARATUS Application mea December 5, 1927. serial No. 237,787.

lstem is manual under direction of the o'perator in charge, but even with expert supervision, damage 'to the tools and their operating mechanism frequentl occurs, with a consequent loss in tools and1 equipment as well as of time required in making repairs and replacements.

It is the object of our invention to provide automatic control of the individual driving elements for the Working parts of a drill equipment whereb the rate of feed of uthe drilling tools may y regulated according to conditions encountered in the well,

whereby under severe conditions, the drilling may be interrupted and the `tools retrieved before actual damage occurs.

More particularly the purpose of our 1nvention 1s to provide a combination of electrical control devices operable in connection with electric motors used ,for propelling the operative units of a well drilling rig whereby said units are adapted for separate or simultaneous operation under manual controlor that the control between the power units may be inter-dependent, one upon the other through automatically operated control switches which are actuated by a varition in the electric current flow through the propelling motors.

Inthe practice of drilling oil wells with rotary apparatus difliculty is occasionally encountered in drilling through certain of the rock formations, as the rotative drill bit often becomes fast and solidly engaged therein and this quite often causes damage to the equipment. The wedging of the drill bit is largely due to the fact that it is fed the drill bit downward continuously, e

downward intermittently and independently|of the drill operating mechanism and as it is given a considerable allowance of cutting travel in each feed operation, it is7 therefore, obvious that when the drill bit encounters irregularities in/the rock formations, it may be forced downward into a narrow crevice or the like and thus be held against rotation. In order to overcome the a ove stated objectionable features of rotary drilling, we provide means for feeding dependent upon `cutting progress of t bit. When the bit is cutting through a hard for mation, the electric current flow to the motor driving the bit is affected and an automatic control switch connected in a circuit with the, drill propelling motor controls the speed of a feed regulatin motor.

We also provide a holst motor so interconnected electrically through suitable devices that if the drill bit becomes fast while drilling, the condition is reflected in the electric current owing to the propelling motor and effects the closing of a circuit to the hoist motor and instantaneous hoisting tof the drill bit to free it from the obstrucion.

In acomplishing these objects of our invention we have provided improved details of mechanical construction and electrical control hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fi 1 is a pers ective view of the mechamcal elements o a rotary drilling rig employed in accordance with our invention.

Fig. 2 is an endy view of the operating mechanisms, taken from within the derrick.

Fig. 3 is a detail pers ective view of the counter shaft clutch shi ting mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the spooling drum brake mechanism.

Fi 5 is a detail Aperspective view of the varia le speed lettmg-in motor with its speed controlling motor and the automatic circuit controlling mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the ,primary worm gear unit in the letting-in transmission.

Cil

Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram, illustrated conventionall showing the master switch open and the e ements in condition for manual control of the operating parts.

Fig. 8 is a similar circuit diagram illus- 'trating the circuit in condition for normal drilling operation under automatic control.

Fig. 9 is a similar circuit diagram showing the circuit in condition for operating the hoisting motor under `automatic control.

Fig. 1() isa diagram of the manual control circuit for the hoisting motor.

Fig. 11 is a similar view of the manual control circuit for the drill rotating motor.

Referring more in detail to the drawings and first tothe mechanical elements of the drilling rig 1 designates a part ofthe derrick structure comprising the Hoor 2 upon which is mounted an ordinary rotary table 3, which will not be described in detail as it is of a conventional form. The table 3 is operable by a shaft 4 journaled in bearings 5 and having a beveled pinion 6 meshing with a pinion 7 fixed on a shaft 8 journaled in bearings 9 and carrying a sprocket Wheel 10. Running over the sprocketwheel 10 is a chain 11, which also runs over a sprocket wheel 12 on the shaft 13 of an electrical motor 14 whereby the drill stem is rotated, as will be presently described.

Mounted on the derrick is a draw works, indicated generally by the frame 15 and comprising a spooling drum 16 having a shaft 17 journaled in bearings 18 on the uprights of the frame 15 and provided with a sprocket wheel 19. Running over the sprocket wheel 19 and over a sprocket wheel 20 on the shaft 21 of an electrical hoisting motor 22 is a chain 23, whereby the drum 16' may be rotated upon operation of the motor 22. Wound on the drum 16 is a rope or cable 24 which extends over the usual set of sheave wheels on a crown block (not shown) at the .top of the derrick and connected with the drill stem 25 through a head block (not shown) and a hook 26 in the usual manner.

The spooling drum comprises the usual brake faces and brake bands 28, the latter under control of a lever 29 so that tools and casing may be let into the well under the brake control, or through the motor 22, and pulled from the well by operation of the motor, under manual control, as presently described.

Journaled in bearings 30 on the frame "15, above the spooling drum is a counter shaft 31. Loosely mounted on the shaft 31 are sprocket wheels 32, and run over said sprocket Wheels and over sprocket wheels 33 on the spooling drum shaft are chains 34, and 34',

. the sprocket Wheels 32 having clutch hubs 35 engageablewvith clutch members 36 splined on the counter shaft 31 to tie the spooling drums Vto the counter shaft when either clutch is set. The clutch members 36 are controlled by a shifting mechanism 37 comprising an operating lever 38 so that when the lever is in one position, the counter shaft and spooling drum are in operative connection by the chain 34 to control unwinding rotation of the drum through the shaft; and when shifted in the oppo ite direction, said connection is broken and t e chain 34 becomes operatively connected, and due to the different ratios of the sprockets connected by. the chains 34 and 34', variation in speed of the spooling drum is obtained. The counter shaft is preferably provided with cat heads 39 for various uses.

Fixed on the counter shaft 31 is a sprocket Wheel 40, carrying a chain 41 which runs over a sprocket wheel 42 loose on the shaft 43 of a worm wheel 44, mounted in a housing 45 suitably supported on the derrick fioor. Splined on the worm shaft 43 is a clutch sleeve 46 yieldingly urged toward the sprocket wheel 42 by a. spring 47. (Fig. 6) which surrounds the shaft 43 and bears against the clutch member and against the housing 45, and has aws 48 cooperative with the jaws 49 on the hub of the sprocket wheel 42 so that the clutch is normally closed. With this a1'- rangement when the worm mechanism is in operation, the spooling drum may be rotated under weight of the tools to let out the cable and permit the drilling bit to follow the drilling operation, but at a speed determined by the worm transmission, part of which has just been described; the clutch slipping against the tension of the spring to permit the spool to turn and wind up the cable without interference from the tool-feeding motor.

Theclutch on the worm wheel shaft may be shifted to separate the transmission from the counter shaft by a bell crank lever 50, having one arm 51 connected with the splined sleeve 48 and the other arm 52 connected with an actuating rod 53 having a handle 54 and provided with teeth 55 engageable with a .blade 56 on a bracket 57 on the draw works frame.

The worm wheel 44 meshes with a worm 58 on a shaft 59 journaled in a suitable bearing on the derrick floor and provided with a worm wheel 60 which, in turn, meshes with a worm 61 on a shaft 62, also suitably journaled in bearings on the derrick floor; the shaft 62 carrying a sprocket wheel 63 over which is run a chain belt 64.y The belt 64 runs over a sprocket wheel 65 on the shaft 66 of a tool let-out motor 67, also mounted on the derrick floor. The shaft 66 carries a commu- Atator brush of ordinary construction (not shown) which is mounted on a ring gear wheel 68 which is vloosely mounted on the shaft 66 and meshesvwith a pinion 69 on the shaft 70 of al small reversing motor 71, which is mounted on the derrick floor adjacent the motor 67.

The reversing motor 71 provided for shifting the brushes of the motor 67 to vary the speed of the motor 67 the shaft 70 being extended through a limit switch 72 (Fig. 5) of a conventional type which is attached to the base of the motor 67 and serves to limit the rotation of the motor 71 in either direction and onsequently to limit the shifting of the brus in either direction.

Referring now to the electrical connections for the various motors and their controls:

75 (Fig. 7) designates al main feed line from a source of electrical power (not shown). Branching from the line 75 is a line 14 leading through the primary coil 77 of a transformer 78 to a switch 122 mechanically connected to and part of the drum type `controller 79, illustrated mechanically in F 1g. 1 and diagrammatically in the circuit figures. The controller 79 is under manual control of the operatorthrough a rope or cable 80 run over.a friction sheave wheel 81 on the controller 79 and over a corresponding Wheel 82 on the control board 83 whereby a circuit may be closed through the motor to effect rotation of the drill stem.4

Also leading from the main feed line 75 is a branch 84 passing through armature contacts 85 and 86, which, when the motor 22 is operating under manual control, are in closed relation, to a controller 87, illustrated mechanically in F ig. 1 and electrically in the diagrams, whereby `the hoisting motor 22 is manually controlled from the operators position by a rope or cable 88 running oyer a friction sheave wheel 89 on the controller 87 and over a corresponding Wheel 90 on the control board. With this arrangement the hoisting motor may be cutin or out to raise and lower the tools, tubing or casing under manual cont-rol.

Referring now to the automat-ic features of the controlling apparatus:

91 designates a line leading through the secondary coil 92 of the transformer 78,

- through a relay 93 for the switch 94 of the tool feeding motor l67, through al hoisting motor switch relay 95 and through the coil 96 of an automatic control switch 97 of ordinary construction operating on the principle of an ammeter but comprising a contact arm 98 in place of the indicator arm commonly employed in such devices for indicating current values, t-he master switch 99 being located in this line. v

67 designates a line leading from the main lfeed line through switch 94' to supply the tool-feeding motor 67 When the apparatus is operating under automatic control and the relay coil 93 is energized.

71 designates a line leading from the main feed line to the reversing motor to furnish current for operating the motor when the automatic switch arm' 98 is in one of the circuit c'losing positions presently described.

When the system is to be placed under automatic control, the master switch 99 is closed,

thereby permitting current to pass through the line 91fto close the switch 94 for the toolfeeding motor 67 and placing thetool-feeding motor in operation at a speed corresponding to the normal position of its brush. Simultaneously with the closing of the toolfeeding motor relay 94, the hoisting motor relay 95 operates a switch 100, making contacts 101 and 102 (Fig. 8) and at the saine time opening contacts 85 and 86, the closing of the contacts 101 and 102 placing the hoisting motor in condition for operation when other controlling conditions presently described are brought about; the opening of the contacts 85 and 86 cutting out the manual control of the hoisting motor 22.

It wi'll be observed that under the above conditions, current will flow throuh the toolfeeding motor and through the table operating :motor to feed the tools and rotate the tools for drilling, but that the hoisting motor is inactive because the break in the circuit at the switch 103 in the line 22 leading to this motor from the main feed line 75. Under these conditions the drilling continues,y the tools being let' out gradually at low speed and rotated under the influence of the motor 14. i

Referring now to the ammeter Contact switch:

104 designates a board carrying adj ustablc contact points 105, 106 and 107. Leading from the contact points 105 and 106 through the brush controlling mot-or 71 to line 75 are separate lines 10W-108. Leading from the main feed line 75 through the contact arm 98 of the ammeter switch is a line 109. Under ordinary drilling conditions, the hoisting lnoto'r 22 is inactive, switch arm 98,1'e1nains in a position out of contact with points 105, 106 or 107, the tool rotating motor 14 operates to rotate the tools, and the tool-feeding motor 67 operates to lower the tools at normal speed. When less thannormal'resistancc is encountered by the drill bit, less than the normal amount of current is required by the tool operating reflected in the ammeter switch coil, and the contact arm 98 is influenced by the coil 96 to shift back to contact with the point 105, closing a circuit from the main line through the line 105 to motor 71, and rotating the shaft 70 in a direction to advance the brush of motor 67 and speed up themotor to increase the letting-out speed of the spooling` drum. When more than ordinary resistance is encountered in the well, an increased load is placed on'the tool rotating motor 14, a

greater amount of current flows through the motor and this condition is' 'down of the drilling operation,

motor and slow down the letting-out 4speed of the spooling drum.

Should the condition in the well be suiiiciently severe to be unrelieved by the slowing the load lon motor 14 and flow of current through the circuit will bre/further increased and the ammeter4 switcl arm carried to contactwith the point 07, thereby closing the circuit from the mainline through branch 109, contact arm 98, point 107, line 110 and relay 111, back to the main feed line, the relay 111 throwing the switch 103 and closing a circuit through he hoisting motor 22 which immediately comes into action to rotate the spooling drum and-retrieve the drill bit by lifting the tools from contact with the formation in which the bit has encountered difficulty.

This hoisting action is permitted to occur without danger to the tool-feeding motor parts because of the automatic shifting of the clutch on the worm gear transmission shaft, heretofore described.

As soon as the tools have been retrieved, the load on the motor 14 is reduced and the current falls correspondingly, the contact arm 98 dropping back out of contact with the point 107, breaking the circuit through the hoisting motor so that the motor stops' and the lifting of the tools interrupted, the contact arm 98 returning to its normal neutral position and the feeding of the tools downwardly in tliewell being resumed under control of the motor 67. This operation continues under the automatic control as long as the master switch 99 is closed.

The contacts on the ammeter switch are l adjustable to vary the range of speed of the tool-feeding-inv motor and the point of resistance to which the tools are retrieved. This adjustment may be effected through the mechanical construction illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the point 105 is carried by an arm 112 lattached to a hollowsleevel 113 having frictional bearing in the board 104 and provided with an operating handle 114; the point 106 is carried by an arm 115 mounted on a sleeve 116 havingfrictional `mounting in sleeve 113 and provided with an operating handle 117 and the point 107 is carried by an arm 118 mountedy on a rod 119 having frictional mounting inthe sleeve 116 and provided' with an operating handle 120; spring washers 121 being interposed between the handle members to yieldingly retain the points in set positions.

With such an arrangementthe points may be adjustedto vary the limits of speed of the. tool-feeding motor and they degree of resistance at which the tools are retrieve through the hoisting motor. i

It is apparent, therefore, that with a drilling rig equipped with our improvements, the drill bit may be lowered to its work at a operating, tool feeding,

.matic switch, a

rate of speed influenced by character of the formation in which its work is done; that should resistance to the drill be sufficient to constitute an actual hazard, the tools are automatically retrieved and then restored to operation, and that control of the drilling may be effected either automatically through the circuits described or manually at the will of the operator through hand switches 122 and 123 in the tool rotating and hoistingmotor circuits respectively, thereby avoiding interruption of the drilling operation should the automatic controls become disordered,

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Well drilling apparatus comprising separate tool operating, hoisting. mechanisms, each including an individual motor, a primary circuit for supplying current to each motor, a secondary circuit, a switch under influence of the secondary circuit to effect operation of the tool feeding motor relatively with operation of the tool operating motor, and a switch under influence of thesecondary circuit to effect operation of the tool hoisting motor upon excessive resistance Yof the tool to the tool operating motor.

y2. Well drilling apparatus comprising tool and tool hoisting mechanisms having individual motors, a primary circuit having switch connection to the motors, a secondary circuit, the switch in the connection to the tool feeding motor being under the influence of the secondary circuit to effect operation of the tool feeding motoi relatively with operation of the tool operating motor, and means responsive to variation in the secondary circuit forV regulating speed of the tool feeding motor, and for effecting operation of the tool hoisting motor under abnormal resistance to the tool operating motor.

3. Well drilling apparatus comprising separate tool operating, tool feed regulating, and tool hoisting motors, a primary circuit connection between the primary circuit and the tool operating motor including a primary transformer coil and a manually operable switch, connection between the main circuit and the feed regulating motor including an automatic switch, connection between the main circuit and the tool hoisting motor including a manually operable switch, a secondary circuit including a secondary transformer coil and means for shifting said automotor having speed regulat ing connection with the feed regulating motor, contact mechanism responsive to variation in theV secondary circuit for effecting d variable operation of said speed regulating motor, and for effecting operation of the tool hoisting motor under abnormal resistance to the tool operating motor, and a master switch in the secondary circuit.

tool feeding and tooloperable on the 4. Well drilling apparatus comprising individual tool operatmg, feed regulating and switch, t e tool retrieving motor having asecondary connection to the main circuit including an automatic switch, a secondary circuit under influence of current iiowing to the tool loperating motor, means under influence of the secondary circuit for selectively connecting the tool retrieving motor with the main circuit through its primary and sec. ondary connections, a contact member responsive to variation in the secondary circuit, and a relay circuit including the contact' member controlling the switch in the secondary connection to the retrieving motor.

5. Vell drilling apparatus comprising individual tool operating, feed regulating and tool retrieving mechanisms, each including an individual motor, a main circuit having individual connections to the separate motors, the connections to the tool operating and retrieving motors including manually operable switches, the connection to the feed regulating motor including an automatic switch, the tool retrieving motor having a secondary connection to the main circuit including an automatic switch, a secondary circuit under influence of current flowing to the tool operatin motor, means under influence of the secon ary circuit for selectively connecting the tool retrieving motor with the main cir-- cuit through its primary and secondary connections, a contact member responsive to variation in. the secondary circuit, a relay cir-- cuit including the contact member controlling the switch in the secondary connection to the retrievin motor, a reversible motor rush of the feed regulating motor to regular speed of the latter, and selective circuits including said contact member for energizing the reversible motor.

6. Well drillin apparatus comprising tool operating mec anism including an electrical motor, a main circuit, connection between the main circuit and said motor including a primary transformer coil -and a manually operable switch, a feed regulating motor, connection between the feed regulating motor and the main circuit including an automatic switch, tool retrieving mechanism including a motor, separate connections between the tool retrieving motor and the main circuit, one including a manually operable switch and the other an automatic switch, a secondary circuit includin' a secondary transformer coil, means un er iniuence of the secondary circuit for operating the switch in the connection to the feed regulating motor, means under iniiuence of the secondary circuit for selectively openingand closing the connections to the retrieving motor, and a relay circuit including a contact arm' responsive to variation in the secondary circuit controlling the automatic switch in the connection to the retrieving motor to automatically effect operation of the retrieving motor.

7. -Well drilling apparatus comprising tool operating mechanism including an electrical motor, a main circuit, connection be- I,

tween the main circuit' and said motor including a primary transformer coil and a manually operable switch, a feed regulating motor, connection between the feed regulating motor 4and the main circuit including an automatic switch, tool retrieving mechanism includingr a motor, separate connections between the tool retrieving motor and the main circuit, one including a manually operable switch and the other an automatic switch, a secondary circuit including a secondary transformer coil, means under influence of the secondary circuit for operating the switch in the connection to the feed regulatiing motor, means under infiuence of the secon-dary circuit for selectively opening and closing the connections tov the retrieving motor, a relay circuit including a contact 'arm responsive to variation in the secondary circiut controlling the automatic switch in the connection to the retrieving motor to automatically effect operation of the retrieving motor, and a master switch in the secondary circuit for determining automatic control of the feed regulating and toolretrieving motors.

8. Well drilling apparatus comprising tool operating and retrieving mechanisms, each including an individual motor, a main circuit, connection between the main circuit and the tool operating motor including a primary transformer coil and a manually operable switch, separate connections from the main circuit to the tool retrieving motor, one including a manually operable switch and the other an automatic swltch, a. secondary circuit including a secondary transformer coil, circuit making and breaking mechanism common to the two retrieving motor connections and under influence of the secondary circuit to effect closingy of the circuit through the connection including the manually operable switch when the secondary circuit is opened and through the connection including the automatic switch when the secondary circuit is closed, a relay circuit including means controlling said automatic switch, a contact mak` ing and breaking mechanism, subject to variation in the secondary circuit to open and close the relay circuit, and a master switch in the secondary circuit.

9. Well drillin apparatus comprising tool operating mec anism, tool feed regulate' ing mechanism and tool retrieving mechanism, each including a separate motor, a main circuit, connection from the main circuit to the tool operating motor including a transformer and a manually operable switch, a primary` connection from the main circuit to the tool retrieving motor including a manually operable switch, a secondary connection betwen the main circuit-and the tool retrieving motor including an automatic switch, compound circuit making and breaking mechanism for selectively closing the primary or secondary connections to the tool retrieving motor, a connection between, the main circuit and the tool feed regulating motor including an automatic switch, a secondary circuit including a secondary transformer coil, means for actuating said compound circuit making and breaking mechanism and the automatic switch'in the connection tothe feed regulating motor, a reversible motor operable on the feed regulating motor to vary the speed of said motor,

separate lines for connecting the reversible motor with the main circuit, each including a contact point, a relay connection with the main circuit including a contact point, means for actuating the switch in the secondary connection to the tool retrieving motor, a contact arm connected with the main circuit and adapted for movement to contact with either of said contact points according to variation in the secondary circuit to energize the reversible motor in either direction or to close the secondary connection to the tool retrieving motor, and a master switch in said secondary circuit.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

DION L. JOHNSON. WELDEN F. BARNES. 

